Do you even know me?

We have heard the saying do unto others as we would have others do unto you. In this age of misdeeds, disrespect, unkindness, cruelty this is a good time to remind the saints what God is looking for when it comes to us and how we treat each other. The first three verses set the premise for our Christian success. 13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. (Heb 3:1–3).

We have heard this before Let brotherly love continue. How simple is that? This word brotherly describe the level of love that we should embody. In the Greek this word is Philio. The root of Philadelphia. The city of brotherly love.

We are to love the fellow believer. We should have affection for the fellow believer. In the new testament this term occurs. Stressing the relationship with God is manifested by our love for one another. Romans 12:10 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 1 Peter 1:22 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 2 Peter 1:5-8 gives us a even better picture of why brotherly love is so vital to the saint.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter goes on to say in 2 Peter 2:17  Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Why is this continually emphasized? 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (1 Pe 3:8). Here it is 1 John said 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Love One Another

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1 Jn 3:10–11).

The Stranger

The challenge continues because not only are we to continue in brotherly love but we are to entertain strangers. Verse 2 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Matthew 25:35 says 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, (Mt 25:35–36). Remember what Jesus said when the question was ask when did we have opportunity/ What you have done to the least of these you done unto me. We are to show hospitality. This word hospitality has the similar root as brotherly. The word philoxenia The practice of receiving a guest r stranger graciously. Now this receiving must be done without complaining. Showing hospitality means sharing, caring showing empathy. 1 Peter 4:9 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: (1 Pe 4:9–10). This pracrtice of caring is indicative of a beloved community. The stranger is cared for. As we learned in Sunday School today God is concerned about the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. We must not take advantage of any in this group. We are to welcomed them and show concern for them.

I like how the Hebrew writer reminds us that we may be actually showing hospitality to angels and don’t even know it. Remember it was in Sodom that the angels who came the town did not identify them selves as angels. Lot welcomed in his home but the wicked crowd demanded to have them. We know how that ended. The whole city was destroyed. Only lot and his family escaped. We have to learn to treat even the stranger with love.

The final group is the prisoner. Our empathy is suppose to extend to the point that we liken ourselves in that same prison situation. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. (Heb 13:3). The prisoner is to be cared for also. In ancient Israel, mere imprisonment was not recognized as a formal punishment. When a convict was sentenced to prison (Ezra 7:26), he was to make good his offense by carrying out dull and heavy labor. Today we are are to ensure the systems that are in place that lead to imprisonment are torn down. The biggest factor to incarceration is poverty and lack of resources. Yes some folks are just greedy and low down. Like the nurses who made over a million selling fake vaccine cards, but the prisons today are full of people who come poor neighborhoods and don’t have resources. This is why i promote training for the incarcerated. Giving the returning citizens resources that will give them hope.

Yes remember not just think about them but over them resources!

Why would the Hebrew writer have this conversation? So we will know who we are and when we know who we are we will operate by theses guiding principles.

This is the book that reminds us to 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

what can man do to me?”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Heb 13:5–6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.